An 82-year-old grandmother who whacked an Edmonton police officer with her cane was found guilty Friday of assaulting a peace officer.
However, Lillian Peacock will not have a criminal record because she was granted an absolute discharge.
“The circumstances in this case are far from ordinary,” said Judge Elizabeth Johnson, adding Peacock is not a danger to the community.
The judge found Peacock guilty after ruling there was uncontested evidence Peacock had “raised her cane above her head and brought it down upon the shoulder of Const. Jillian Neufeld several times.”
Court heard Peacock could not recall striking Neufeld and testified she only remembers tapping the officer with her cane to stop her from chasing her granddaughter.
Johnson said police were carrying out their duties and Peacock’s actions were not accidental.
Peacock, who had trouble walking in court and was using her cane, appeared unaware of what the judge had ruled and was taken away by family.
Court heard police were called to the Aurora Motel on Sept. 8 for a complaint of two people trespassing in a suite where Peacock was registered.
When officers arrived, Peacock told them the people were not there, but her granddaughter and another person were found in an adjoining room.
Peacock’s granddaughter tried to flee and when Neufeld went to chase her, Peacock struck the officer several times with her cane.